American Chronicles: The Art of Norman Rockwell, a major retrospective of Norman Rockwell’s work throughout his 65-year career, will be on exhibit at Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale, Nova Southeastern University. The exhibition, which is being presented by AutoNation and The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., features works from the Norman Rockwell Museum’s collections, including his greatest oil paintings and preparatory sketches, as well as archival photographs and documents that illustrate his artistic process.

"Our ongoing, long-time investment in the Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale comes back to us tenfold knowing that every art exhibit, every education program, and every cultural event brings enlightenment and joy to young and old alike,” said Mike Jackson, Chairman and CEO of AutoNation. “Fort Lauderdale -- and South Florida, is not only the home of the national headquarters for AutoNation, Inc., it is the home of over 6,000 of our associates and their families. We can think of no better gift to our hometown or our associates than to make sure that art and culture will always be a part of this community. We applaud the Museum of Art for bringing the Norman Rockwell exhibit here. We hope everyone enjoys it!"

American Chronicles showcases Rockwell’s portrayal of American life, from scenes of childhood innocence to the wrenching Murder in Mississippi (1965), the artist’s response to the slaying of three civil rights workers. One of the most popular American artists of the 20th century, Rockwell (1894-1978), was a keen observer of human nature and a gifted storyteller, and chronicled the changing American society through nuanced scenes of ordinary people in everyday life.

“We understand the valuable return that investing in the arts can deliver,” said Craig Grant, regional president of PNC for Florida. “Today more than ever, the businesses that we attract, the jobs we create and the visitors who extend their stay are drawn by what Southeast Florida has to offer. Our support of the Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale through The PNC Foundation, which receives its principle funding from PNC, is one of the many ways we can help strengthen the economic vitality of the region.”  

“In addition to seeing his greatest paintings, already icons of American art, visitors can view a snapshot of American history through Rockwell’s 323 Saturday Evening Post covers, which will also be on view,” said Irvin Lippman, Executive Director of the Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale.  “The exhibition also allows us to examine our renowned William Glackens collection within the context of his illustrations for the Saturday Evening Post as well as Munsey’s, Scribner’s, and Harper’s magazines.”  Glackens as Illustrator will be on view concurrently with the Rockwell exhibition.

Along with Nova Southeastern University’s Alvin Sherman Library, Research, and Information Technology Center, the Museum will be hosting numerous Norman Rockwell-related events every week during the exhibition, that will celebrate the holidays and the literary, visual and performance arts. The  November 13 Beaux Arts Festival of Trees, the December 1 Christmas on Las Olas, and the Dec. 12 Winterfest Boat Parade, as well as other South Florida major holiday events, will incorporate Norman Rockwell themes.

“Forty years ago, public demand and affection for Norman Rockwell’s art compelled the creation of our Museum,” says Laurie Norton Moffatt, Director/CEO of Norman Rockwell Museum. “Today, unabated public enthusiasm inspires us to share our collection and Rockwell’s legacy with the nation’s art museums such as the Museum of Art | Fort Lauderdale.”

Organized by Norman Rockwell Museum, American Chronicles has been generously supported by an American Masterpieces Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Curtis Publishing Company, the Norman Rockwell Estate Licensing Company, the Stockman Family Foundation Trust, and a private corporate foundation. The exhibition is accompanied by an illustrated catalogue featuring in-depth scholarship by longtime Curator of Rockwell Collections Linda Szekely Pero.